The Guarani Aquifer is the source of drinking water for some 90 million people and is being overused in several areas of São Paulo state (Brazil). Urban wells and crop irrigation are the main uses. The researchers deployed stable isotopes to estimate the relative contributions of rainwater and groundwater to the maintenance of springs in the region.

In the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy session, annatto photosensitizer was sprayed on to the tongue at a concentration of 20%.The study involved 52 mouth-breathing children aged 6-12 with halitosis.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the State University of Campinas have discovered a neuropeptide that acts on the peripheral nervous system, outside the brain, to speed up metabolism. The finding opens the way to more efficient and cheaper treatments for obesity.

On Ecuador's coast, ancestral heritage and modern tourism coexist in a dynamic, often challenging interplay. While global tourism leans toward the dominance of large corporations and international travel flows, rural and Indigenous communities face the challenge of adapting without losing their identity and roots. This study explored how coastal Ecuadorian communities are redefining tourism on their own terms, prioritizing collectivity and cultural values over commercial norms. Through a decolonial lens, local tourism ventures are analyzed as acts of resistance and cultural preservation in an environment that typically demands conformity to market-driven rules. 

The School is aimed at a broad audience that includes students with a keen interest in complexity or bio-inspired applications, information science and quantum materials. Registrations are due on February 15, 2025.

Researchers at the University of São Paulo found 62 proteins specific to spores of Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungal species that causes lung disease. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, showed that at least one of these proteins inhibits human defense mechanisms.

An analysis of 429 specimens belonging to 39 species representative of the diversity of Polistes in the Americas confirmed the inverse of Bergmann’s rule by pointing to larger body size for species occurring in or near the tropics compared with species inhabiting higher latitudes.

Researchers partnering with the City of Guarujá (São Paulo state) conducted a study that found a high level of contamination on Perequê Beach, with plastics and cigarette butts predominating. The results will be useful for policymakers to implement measures that can mitigate the problem.

A recent study conducted by scientists at ESPOL has unveiled the biotechnological potential of microorganisms from Antarctica. In this remote continent, where life thrives under extreme conditions, researchers isolated 77 microbial strains from 162 cultures, identifying 49 species, predominantly actinomycetes (66.23%). Sampling conducted at the Great Wall and Henryk Arctowski stations revealed a rich diversity of microorganisms, especially in areas covered with mosses and lichens, where organic matter appears to support their proliferation.